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Labour MP Jim Dobbin dies aged 73 | Labour MP Jim Dobbin dies aged 73 |
(35 minutes later) | |
Labour MP Jim Dobbin has died aged 73, the party has announced. | Labour MP Jim Dobbin has died aged 73, the party has announced. |
Mr Dobbin, MP for Heywood and Middleton in Greater Manchester, was on a trip to Poland with a parliamentary committee when he died. | Mr Dobbin, MP for Heywood and Middleton in Greater Manchester, was on a trip to Poland with a parliamentary committee when he died. |
The former microbiologist had served as an MP since 1997, and won with a 5,971 majority at the last election. | The former microbiologist had served as an MP since 1997, and won with a 5,971 majority at the last election. |
Labour leader Ed Miliband said it was a "sad day for Parliament," adding that Mr Dobbin was a "dedicated public servant". | Labour leader Ed Miliband said it was a "sad day for Parliament," adding that Mr Dobbin was a "dedicated public servant". |
Mr Miliband added: "I will miss Jim's good friendship and decency. | Mr Miliband added: "I will miss Jim's good friendship and decency. |
"On behalf of the Labour Party, I offer our sincere condolences to his wife, Pat, and their children. We will all miss him." | "On behalf of the Labour Party, I offer our sincere condolences to his wife, Pat, and their children. We will all miss him." |
Mr Dobbin was in Poland for a Council of Europe trip. His wife Pat is believed to have been with him. | Mr Dobbin was in Poland for a Council of Europe trip. His wife Pat is believed to have been with him. |
Coal miner's son | |
The MP was a committed Roman Catholic and in 2008 he was made a papal knight by Pope Benedict. | |
In parliament, he chaired the Pro Life Committee and was a member of the Involuntary Tranquillizer Addiction Group as well as the Transport Scrutiny Select Committee. | |
He voted against the same-sex marriage bill last year and spoke out against the plans in Parliament, saying: "I think MPs who voted for this change will rue the day they did so." | |
The son of a coal miner, he was born in Kincardine, in Fife. | |
He went to Napier College, Edinburgh, where he studied bacteriology and virology, before working as a microbiologist for 33 years, 22 of which were for the Royal Oldham Hospital. | |
Mr Dobbin was elected as a councillor to the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale council in 1983, where he became group leader in 1994. | |
Former deputy Labour leader John Prescott said: "Jim was an excellent local MP, a strong believer in Europe, a proud Scot and a passionate defender of the NHS. | |
"His passing is such a tragic loss and he will be sadly missed by the Labour movement. Jim was a great comrade." | |
Ivan Lewis, Labour MP for Bury South, tweeted: "Jim Dobbin was a man of great integrity and decency. Sometimes didn't agree but always respected his sincerity." | |
Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell tweeted: "Really sorry to hear of the sudden death of Jim Dobbin MP. I only saw him on Friday voting against bedroom tax. He was a great MP." |